Up the Airway by Wayne Lutz

Author:Wayne Lutz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: airplanes, canada, aviation, airports, aircraft, british columbia, powell river, powell lake, general aviation, piper arrow, air travel
Publisher: Wayne Lutz

The control tower has no idea why I’m executing a missed approach, since they’re unable to communicate with me. I visualize them clearing jet traffic around me, watching my every move and waiting for me to get safely on the ground. Inside the cockpit, I’m struggling with the climb, while making a left turn to clear the hills on the inland side of the airport. With my right hand on the yoke, I reach behind my seat with my other hand, fumbling with my flight bag, trying to find the portable VHF radio. I feel the antenna and use it to pull the small radio from the bag.

We climb upward and turn left, now on the downwind leg for Runway 10R. I ask Margy to take the airplane, while I turn on the portable radio (full volume for the noisy cockpit) and tune it to the control tower frequency. I hold the microphone close to my mouth and yell more than talk.

“Monterey Tower, this is Arrow niner-niner-seven on a handheld radio. How do you hear?”

“You’re loud and clear, niner-niner-seven. Go ahead.”

“We’ve experienced complete electrical failure and do not have landing gear down-and-locked lights in the cockpit. Request you verify our gear is down.”

“Nine-nine-seven, roger. Your landing gear appears to be down. I see all three wheels. Are you declaring an emergency?”

This is standard ATC phraseology. The tower controller can see wheels extending from the aircraft, but he has no way to confirm the gear is locked down. Thus, he states the gear “appears to be down.” But it’s a relief to know he sees all of our wheels. Now if only they’re locked in place.

“Negative emergency.” I reply.

I don’t feel it’s necessary to roll the fire trucks, but it will be an adrenaline-producing touchdown.

“Roger, niner-niner-seven. You’re cleared to land on Runway One-Zero Right.”

“I’ll keep it nice and gentle during touchdown,” I tell Margy. “Here, monitor the radio, and I’ll land the airplane.”

“We’re okay,” she replies confidently, as she relinquishes the controls to me and jams the small radio against her ear.

She knows exactly what “appears to be down” means.

“Could be expensive,” I say with a forced laugh.

There’s nothing more to do than make the smoothest landing possible and not take it too seriously. Gear-up landings are rare, and they seldom result in injuries. But damage can be extensive. First there are the belly sparks as the rear of the aircraft contacts the concrete, and then the prop strikes the runway. The wings (containing fuel) come down last, but they’re designed to contain the gas in such a situation.

If you want to worry about expenses, consider the regulations regarding propellers that hit solid pavement. A prop strike is automatic cause for engine overhaul, since the crankshaft could be damaged. Our recent engine overhaul came prematurely at 550 hours. Now there may be another one required after a mere 3 hours of flight. It’s worth a laugh, to prevent crying.

The landing and rollout are a non-event, except for a tremendous sense of relief in the cockpit.

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